Inspect malfunctioning or damaged products to identify sources of problems and possible solutions

Aerospace engineers may develop new technologies for use in aviation, defense systems, and spacecraft. They often specialize in areas such as aerodynamic fluid flow; structural design; guidance, navigation, and control; instrumentation and communication; robotics; and propulsion and combustion.

Aerospace engineers can specialize in designing different types of aerospace products, such as commercial and military airplanes and helicopters; remotely piloted aircraft and rotorcraft; spacecraft, including launch vehicles and satellites; and military missiles and rockets.

Aerospace engineers often become experts in one or more related fields: aerodynamics, thermodynamics, celestial mechanics, flight mechanics, propulsion, acoustics, and guidance and control systems.

Aerospace engineers typically specialize in one of two types of engineering: aeronautical or astronautical.

Aeronautical engineers work with aircraft. They are involved primarily in designing aircraft and propulsion systems and in studying the aerodynamic performance of aircraft and construction materials. They work with the theory, technology, and practice of flight within the earth’s atmosphere.

Astronautical engineers work with the science and technology of spacecraft and how they perform inside and outside the earth’s atmosphere.

Aeronautical and astronautical engineers face different environmental and operational issues in designing aircraft and spacecraft. However, the two fields overlap a great deal because they both depend on the basic principles of physics.

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How To Become A Senior Structural Designer

Aerospace engineers must have a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering or another field of engineering or science related to aerospace systems. Aerospace engineers who work on projects that are related to national defense may need a security clearance. U.S. citizenship may be required for certain types and levels of clearances.

Education

Entry-level aerospace engineers usually need a bachelor’s degree. High school students interested in studying aerospace engineering should take courses in chemistry, physics, and math, including algebra, trigonometry, and calculus.

Bachelor’s degree programs include classroom, laboratory, and field studies in subjects such as general engineering principles, propulsion, stability and control, structures, mechanics, and aerodynamics, which is the study of how air interacts with moving objects.

Some colleges and universities offer cooperative programs in partnership with regional businesses, which give students practical experience while they complete their education. Cooperative programs and internships enable students to gain valuable experience and to finance part of their education.

At some universities, a student can enroll in a 5-year program that leads to both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree upon completion. A graduate degree will allow an engineer to work as an instructor at a university or to do research and development. Programs in aerospace engineering are accredited by ABET.

Important Qualities

Analytical skills. Aerospace engineers must be able to identify design elements that may not meet requirements and then must formulate alternatives to improve the performance of those elements.

Business skills. Much of the work done by aerospace engineers involves meeting federal government standards. Meeting these standards often requires knowledge of standard business practices, as well as knowledge of commercial law.

Critical-thinking skills. Aerospace engineers must be able to translate a set of issues into requirements and to figure out why a particular design does not work. They must be able to ask the right question, then find an acceptable answer.

Math skills. Aerospace engineers use the principles of calculus, trigonometry, and other advanced topics in math for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work.

Problem-solving skills. Aerospace engineers use their education and experience to upgrade designs and troubleshoot problems when meeting new demands for aircraft, such as increased fuel efficiency or improved safety.

Writing skills. Aerospace engineers must be able both to write papers that explain their designs clearly and to create documentation for future reference.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Licensure is not required for entry-level positions as an aerospace engineer. A Professional Engineering (PE) license, which allows for higher levels of leadership and independence, can be acquired later in one’s career. Licensed engineers are called professional engineers (PEs). A PE can oversee the work of other engineers, sign off on projects, and provide services directly to the public. State licensure generally requires:

A degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program

A passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam

Relevant work experience, typically at least 4 years

A passing score on the Professional Engineering (PE) exam

The initial FE exam can be taken after one earns a bachelor’s degree. Engineers who pass this exam are commonly called engineers in training (EITs) or engineer interns (EIs). After meeting work experience requirements, EITs and EIs can take the second exam, called the Principles and Practice of Engineering.

Advancement

Eventually, aerospace engineers may advance to become technical specialists or to supervise a team of engineers and technicians. Some may even become engineering managers or move into executive positions, such as program managers.

The national average salary for a Senior Structural Designer in the United States is $135,387 per year or $65 per hour. Those in the bottom 10 percent make under $96,000 a year, and the top 10 percent make over $190,000.

Real Senior Structural Designer Salaries

Job Title

Company

Location

Start Date

Salary

Senior Structurer

Citicorp North America, Inc.

New York, NY

Feb 11, 2015

$175,000

Senior Structurer

Citibank, N.A.

New York, NY

Feb 05, 2015

$175,000

Senior Pdms Structural Designer

NES Global, LLC

New Orleans, LA

Apr 15, 2014

$175,000

Senior Pdms Structural Designer

NES Global, LLC

Houston, TX

Sep 30, 2013

$175,000

Senior Structurer

Citicorp North America, Inc.

New York, NY

Feb 11, 2013

$175,000

Senior Pdms Structural Designer

Metroworth Consulting LLC

Katy, TX

Jan 15, 2011

$162,786

Structurer (Senior Associate)

Unicredit Bank AG

New York, NY

Dec 14, 2016

$153,546

Senior Structurer

Calyon Securities (USA) Inc.

New York, NY

Dec 07, 2009

$150,000

Senior Pdms Structural Designer

NES Global, LLC

Houston, TX

Sep 30, 2013

$142,080

Senior Pdms Structural Designer

NES Global, LLC

Houston, TX

Oct 01, 2010

$142,080

Senior Civil Structural Designer

Edoxx Technical Service, LLC

Sugar Land, TX

Feb 09, 2015

$127,691

Senior Lead Designer-Structural Design

SBM Atlantia, Inc.

Houston, TX

Feb 27, 2012

$126,298 -$130,000

Structurer (Senior Associate)

Unicredit Bank AG

New York, NY

Jan 10, 2016

$124,093 -$125,000

SR. Structural Designer

Universal Technical Services A Div. of FJM of LOUI

New Orleans, LA

Mar 10, 2014

$114,785

SR. Structural Designer

Universal Technical Services A Div. of FJM of LOUI

Kenner, LA

Sep 04, 2013

$114,785

SR. Structural Designer

Universal Technical Services A Div. of FJM of LOUI

Kenner, LA

Sep 07, 2013

$114,785

SR. Structural Designer

Universal Technical Services A Div. of FJM of Louisiana, Inc.

New Orleans, LA

Jul 07, 2015

$110,000

SR. Structural Designer

Edoxx Technical Services, LLC

Tyler, TX

Oct 01, 2014

$106,496

Senior Marketer/Structurer Americas

Westport Insurance Corporation

New York, NY

Jul 15, 2015

$103,854 -$135,000

Senior Civil-Structural Designer

Worleyparsons Group, Inc.

Houston, TX

Feb 20, 2015

$100,173

Senior Structural Designer

Worleyparsons Group, Inc.

Houston, TX

Sep 06, 2012

$94,494

Senior Structural Designer

Technip USA, Inc.

Claremont, CA

Aug 19, 2015

$84,611

Senior Structural Designer

Technip USA, Inc.

Claremont, CA

Aug 05, 2014

$77,625

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